Best Michigan fall color?: Find the trails less traveled

Kim Schneiderhorses wait to enter the elk reserve at the Thunder Bay Resort

My day yesterday was characterized by the distinct smell of horse. Turns out it was me.

My plan for finding great fall color in an otherwise muted season was to get off the main trail - and horses turned out to be my primary means of travel. Morning: Mackinac State Park inner island trails on the back of a sweet (but smelly?) horse named Aunt Midge - a decidedly less intimidating moniker than my husband's ride: "Buck."

Evening was spent on a wagon behind majestic Percherons that weighed as much as my car - spotting equally majestic (and bugling) elk - en route to a multi-course dinner in a cozy log cabin at the Thunder Bay Resort. I highly recommend this fall color tour by horse idea; just remember to bring some extra jeans - or strong perfume.